It's the day again where I usually upload the next chapter! Thanks to Urooj for beta-ing my chappy and readers for reading my work.
Before you go further,let's take a look at some terms.
Kake udon=Su udon
Kake udon(Kanto)/Su udon(Kansai) -Japanese noodles in broth,topped with green and etc(vary from location).
Yakisoba - Fried soba
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As they reached their destination, Natsuki gradually decelerated until her motorcycle came to a full stop. Something caught her attention from the corner of her eyes and as she came off her bike she saw someone entering a taxi.
That person…
She eyed the taxi until it passed them, making a left turn at the lights. Being the sharp individual that she was, Shizuru had noticed how Natsuki's attention was elsewhere. She had tried following the direction of Natsuki's eyes, trying to comprehend what had gotten the younger girl's attention.
"Is something wrong?" Shizuru asked with concern.
It couldn't be possible.
"It's nothing." Natsuki shook her head.
They both turned their attention to the side and at the side that read, Lindem Baum.
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"Eh?! Natsuki? Kaichou-san?!" An orange haired girl with a serving tray in her hands cried out. Curious customers turned their head around to see what the commotion was about before turning back to their meals.
"W-What are you doing? You're scaring the customers, and that includes US" Natsuki said indignantly while standing beside Shizuru.
"Gomen ne, but this really did surprise me," Mai leaned in closer to Natsuki. "I didn't expect you to come here out of all the other places you could have gone to, especially for your date with Kaichou-san."
"O-oi! You're getting this all wrong, Mai. This isn't a date lik-"
"Ara? We're on a date?" Shizuru pressed her palm against her cheeks. "Natsuki is such a meanie bringing me here without telling her true intentions. If I'd have known, I'd play my part right from the start."
Once again, Shizuru made the other girl blush. Natsuki was speechless from Shizuru's bold words however the last sentence was rather suspicious and Natsuki didn't dare to imagine what she would have meant by it. She turned around to divert her attention to something else, and spotted an empty table which was in the far left corner of the restaurant with glass sides.
"There we go."
Dressed in her waitress uniform, Mai stood by the side of the table ready to take their orders. She could tell that Natsuki was having difficulty deciding what she wanted to eat, contrary to Shizuru who had closed the menu and was ready to order.
"Tokiha-san, I'll have the Su udon and green tea."
"Alright, one Kake udon and green tea." Mai jotted down the order.
" What about you Nat-" The words died off on Mai's tongue as a large sweat drop formed on her head. She watched the Fuka Kaichou resting her elbows on the table while watching Natsuki's indecisive behavior with amusement. Natsuki's actions would be considered cute to Shizuru, Mai had determined, and she did not know what to do while those two were in their own worlds.
"I know! I'll have this, Yakisoba with extra mayonnaise…and coffee." Natsuki slammed the menu on the table and pointed at the menu of desire. Mai confirmed her orders once more before Natsuki closed the menu and passed it back to Mai.
"I've got all your orders. I'll be right back with them." Mai said, just before disappearing.
Natsuki nodded and turned her head back to Shizuru, only to flinch when her eyes collided with sultry crimson ones.
"I like you, Natsuki despite my "like" is different from your like."
Natsuki's cheeks reddened at those words and she became nervous because she did not know how to respond to Shizuru's comment. On top of that they were surrounded by many people and that didn't ease her nervous state.
"Shizuru…I…"
"Okay, I'm done with today's shift." Mai had interrupted their moment. Natsuki felt a wave of relief wash over, at the same time she was annoyed; Mai had interrupted such an important moment.
Damn it.
"Ara, Tokiha-san, right on time. Natsuki seems to be at loss as to what she should say on our "first date". Perhaps, you could give her a few pointers?" Shizuru giggled and was soon joined by Mai. The part time worker of Lindem Baum sat down beside Natsuki.
"Kaichou-san, you seem to have recovered." Mai said after she had stopped laughing.
"Mm, that's true I have, and it was only because I was under Natsuki's care the entire night that I've recovered. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here right now." Shizuru replied while sipping her green tea that had arrived with the other orders.
"Oh, so Natsuki did use the negi after all!" Mai exclaimed.
"Negi?! No! I hadn't even thought of it!" Natsuki defended herself.
"Ara? The negi? I would've never thought Natsuki was capable of doing such things. Ikezu Natsuki, taking advantage of me while I'm unconscious." The crimson kaichou said with a pleased tone.
"WHAT? I didn't do it! Why would I do it without your consent anyways?"
"Ah, so Natsuki is the type who would get someone's consent before doing it to others? Well that's fine by me as long as it's done by Natsuki's hand." Crimson eyes twinkled.
Mai watched the scene in disbelief, as Shizuru had smoothly countered every statement that Natsuki had produced. Natsuki on the other hand sighed in defeat and started eating her meal.
"Alright then, it's time for me to go and pick her up." Mai informed while watching the two other occupants eat.
"Mikoto?" Natsuki guessed.
"Yep, she's out with Reito right now so I'll take my leave then. See you later Natsuki and kaichou-san!" Mai said as she left. Natsuki and Shizuru stared down at their meal for a while, letting silence settle between them. They had remained silent for a while until Natsuki decided to take a quick peak at Shizuru only to be caught by the crimson-eyed girl. Natsuki quickly averted her eyes and Shizuru took the last bites of her meal.
"Is there something that you would wish to say, Natsuki?" Shizuru asked after setting down her chopsticks and finishing her tea.
"No."
Shizuru cocked her head to the side and stared at Natsuki.
"If my words left you feeling uncomfortable, then I apologize for causing you such unnecessary feelings."
Natsuki shook her head.
"No you don't have to apologize, that wasn't the problem." Natsuki set her chopsticks down. Her meal wasn't finished, but Natsuki had no intentions of finishing it. Shizuru watched her withdraw her hands from the table and slightly frowned.
"You didn't finish your food." Shizuru stated.
"I'm not hungry." Natsuki replied and reached for her coffee.
"Then why did Natsuki suggest coming here in the first place? We could've waited until we had gotten back to your apartment and I would have prepared something."
"Shizuru."
"Yes, Natsuki?" Shizuru tilted her head slightly.
Natsuki looked at Shizuru in the eye.
"Although you've fully recovered, you still have to take your medicine right? If you forget to take them, there are chances that you might fall sick again and I don't want to see you in such a condition ever again."
"Natsuki..." Shizuru muttered.
"Even more, if we had gone back to my place, you would've been doing random chores and I don't want to strain you after you had recovered."
Those words had touched Shizuru's soul and her eyes started to glisten with tears. It wasn't long before one drop had rolled down her flawless face.
Huh?
Natsuki froze on her spot. It took her a few seconds to comprehend the situation.
Gah! She's crying. Do something!
Natsuki slid off her seat and sat beside Shizuru, grabbing a few tissues and moving close to her. She had wanted to wipe away Shizuru's tears but couldn't bring herself to do it, so she had placed them in Shizuru's hands.
"Here Shizuru…for your tears…" Natsuki said, uncomfortable with the situation.
"You're so kind, Natsuki." Shizuru wiped her tears. Her crimson eyes looked straight into the Natsuki's eyes making, Natsuki's heart race. Knowing that her cheeks would soon warm by the contact, she quickly turned away.
"Uh… I-I should go and …uh…pay the bill. I'll be right back."
Natsuki stood and made her way to the counter to pay their bill. She had felt weak while walking to the counter and had knocked down a waitress who had plates in her hand. Natsuki panicked and apologized for her clumsy behavior and all of this was carefully watched by the Kyoto-bed who smiled with amusement.
"Natsuki is such a meanie, making me fall for her even more." Shizuru mumbled as she watched her precious one stand by the counter and pay the bill.
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In the next chapter..
"W-what?" Natsuki couldn't help but to respond what way after looking at Mai's expression
"Mai,Natsuki is......"